January 31, 2012

MOOMINS!!!!!

I have to state at the outset of this post that there will be a great deal of internet shouting today. I’ve been waiting for about 6 months to write about Moomins. I had to patiently wait for a few more Moomin books to be released, which they were this past holiday season. I’ve been waiting and waiting and waiting.

WELL THE WAIT IS OVER FRIENDS! The ‘Finn Family Moomintroll’ series of books by Tove Jansson were HANDS DOWN some of my ALL TIME favorite books as a little girl. I read them and re-read them countless times between the ages of 8 and 10.

These guys:

These tales of delightful and friendly little creatures called Moomintrolls, who live in the wild forests of Finland, are so funny and sweet and charming and hilarious and fantastic. But you know, a little lengthy for your average 4 year old. I knew I had to bide my time until Julia was old enough to be introduced to this magical world.

OR SO I THOUGHT. I found out a few years ago that a new series of Moomin books, based on the original stories, had been created for the preschool set.

I LOST MY MIND. I WAS SO HAPPY. ‘The Book about Moomin, Mymble and Little My’ is one of Julia’s favorite books ever. THE ART. THE ART!!!! The pages have cut-outs in them so you can peek in at the action on the next page. And the rhyming tale of the story is too wonderful, all about Moomin bringing milk home to his mama, while also helping his pal Mymble find her rascally lost (?) little sister, Little My. (who isn’t really lost, she’s hiding, the scamp.)

You get to draw a picture of a fillyjonk. In the book. Don’t you know about fillyjonks? Here’s Julia’s rendition:

Friends, if you are bored with the same-old-thing in bookland, you MUST read these. All things Moomin are huge in Europe, less so here in the States. Not sure why. Moomin books are up there in my All Time Great pantheon of kid books, closely following the Oz books.

Are you still reading this? Go get your hands on a Moomin book! And if your kids are old enough, get the original series! Go go go!